The Social Democrats differed from the SRs in that they believed a revolution must rely on urban workers, not the peasantry.
Strikes increased among low-paid factory workers, and there were reports that peasants, who wanted reforms of land ownership, were restless.
On 3 March 1917, a strike was organized on a factory in the capital Saint Petersburg; within a week nearly all the workers in the city were idle, and street fighting broke out.
The strikers held mass meetings in defiance of the regime, and the army openly sided with the workers.
Soviet historiography proclaimed that the Russian Empire of the 19th century was characterized by systemic crisis, which impoverished the workers and peasants and culminated in the revolutions of the early 20th century.
The russian workers were poor peasants that worked in factories. They worked in cities in factories with horrible working conditions, paid next to nothing, starved, and protested a lot. Among 80% of Russia were peasants at the time. Did not have unions to create non-hazardous working environments, lack of food in russia. Went on strike frequently because they were not paid enough to maintain their life. The workers and peasants were apart of the revolutions.
Worker- David Demboski
What is your name? Albert Baskov
Can you read and write? No. I have no education.
Were you poor growing up? I was a peasant who worked on a farm.
Who is in your family? I have a mom, a dad, and two brothers. They are all still alive.
Where were they born and when? I was born August 7th, 1890.
What were your parent’s jobs? Both of my parents were peasants.
What were the jobs of your parents? They were farmers, and I helped them on the farm.
Do you have a criminal record? No. I have always done what I was supposed to.
Can you give a description of your home? I have a dirt floor and I sleep with the sheep.
How many family members have died from working? Both of my grandpas have died from the chemicals from working.
Are your living conditions clean and safe? No, there is a dirt floor. It is very small.
Did you feel safe in the factories? No, I could cut my arm off and they wont care about me. They will just fire me because I cannot work anymore.
Are the factories made in a safe way to keep you from harm? No, I have to breathe in chemicals all day.
Do you get paid well? I get barely any money, and I am stuck supporting my family. We live terrible lives.
Do you get a normal amount of food a day? No, I cannot afford it on my wage, and I need too feed my family too.
Why did you have no education? My family needed me to work on the farm while I was younger for the money. I grew up and started working in factories.
Have you ever seen the Tsar? Yes, I walked up to him and told him to make the conditions better, but he did nothing.
Have you ever went on strike/ Yes, the conditions were too bad.
Do you think it was unpatriotic how you go on strike during a time of war? No, I could not bear to work in those conditions.
Have you ever thought that soldiers are fighting, and dying during a time of war, and you are so self centered that you go on strike? The conditions were too bad to work in.
The Social Democrats differed from the SRs in that they believed a revolution must rely on urban workers, not the peasantry.
Strikes increased among low-paid factory workers, and there were reports that peasants, who wanted reforms of land ownership, were restless.
On 3 March 1917, a strike was organized on a factory in the capital Saint Petersburg; within a week nearly all the workers in the city were idle, and street fighting broke out.
The strikers held mass meetings in defiance of the regime, and the army openly sided with the workers.
Soviet historiography proclaimed that the Russian Empire of the 19th century was characterized by systemic crisis, which impoverished the workers and peasants and culminated in the revolutions of the early 20th century.
The russian workers were poor peasants that worked in factories. They worked in cities in factories with horrible working conditions, paid next to nothing, starved, and protested a lot. Among 80% of Russia were peasants at the time. Did not have unions to create non-hazardous working environments, lack of food in russia. Went on strike frequently because they were not paid enough to maintain their life. The workers and peasants were apart of the revolutions.
Worker- David Demboski
What is your name?
Albert Baskov
Can you read and write?
No. I have no education.
Were you poor growing up?
I was a peasant who worked on a farm.
Who is in your family?
I have a mom, a dad, and two brothers. They are all still alive.
Where were they born and when?
I was born August 7th, 1890.
What were your parent’s jobs?
Both of my parents were peasants.
What were the jobs of your parents?
They were farmers, and I helped them on the farm.
Do you have a criminal record?
No. I have always done what I was supposed to.
Can you give a description of your home?
I have a dirt floor and I sleep with the sheep.
How many family members have died from working?
Both of my grandpas have died from the chemicals from working.
Are your living conditions clean and safe?
No, there is a dirt floor. It is very small.
Did you feel safe in the factories?
No, I could cut my arm off and they wont care about me. They will just fire me because I cannot work anymore.
Are the factories made in a safe way to keep you from harm?
No, I have to breathe in chemicals all day.
Do you get paid well?
I get barely any money, and I am stuck supporting my family. We live terrible lives.
Do you get a normal amount of food a day?
No, I cannot afford it on my wage, and I need too feed my family too.
Why did you have no education?
My family needed me to work on the farm while I was younger for the money. I grew up and started working in factories.
Have you ever seen the Tsar?
Yes, I walked up to him and told him to make the conditions better, but he did nothing.
Have you ever went on strike/
Yes, the conditions were too bad.
Do you think it was unpatriotic how you go on strike during a time of war?
No, I could not bear to work in those conditions.
Have you ever thought that soldiers are fighting, and dying during a time of war, and you are so self centered that you go on strike?
The conditions were too bad to work in.